Former UConn WR Marcus Easley Out For NFL Season With Heart Ailment

Stratford native Marcus Easley, a former UConn receiver now with the NFL's Buffalo Bills, has been placed on injured reserve with a heart ailment and will miss the remainder of the season. The Buffalo News, which first reported the story, said it is unclear if the ailment is career-threatening.

The Courant also confirmed through a source that there is an issue with Easley's heart. Neither Easley, family members nor his agent could not be reached.

Easley was listed as questionable Friday with what coach Chan Gailey described as an illness. Easley left practice shortly after individual drills that day, saying he felt more winded than usual, according to sources. Easley missed the team's 41-7 win at Kansas City.

Targeted as one of the Bills promising receivers, Easley has yet to play for them. The 2010 fourth-round draft choice missed all of last season with a knee injury.

"It's hard for our football team, but it's hard for him," Gailey told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. "After what he went through last year, and then to be right on the cusp of being there this year and not being able to do it. … We sat and talked and it hurts him, and I hurt for him."

Easley, who came to UConn as a walk-on but earned a scholarship in his final season, had an outstanding senior season in 2009 when he caught 48 passes for 893 yards (18.6 average) and eight touchdowns. In the previous two seasons he had five receptions for 104 yards.